The Great Fire Wall
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:45 am
Chinese computer hackers have discovered a list of officially banned words and topics, casting a new light on the shadowy world of the country's 30,000 Internet Police.
The list found its way on to personal computers without their owner's knowlege after they downloaded it as part of a programme needed to run an instant messaging service.
It is believed the list, or one like it, was already being used to alert censors to read emails containing the words on the list. Those who unwittingly downloaded it founf they were unable to send messages at all, or search for internet documents containing the words.
Some topics were predictable: Human rights, democracy and phrases used to describe the Tiananmen Square massacre. Others revealed the depths of the authoritie's sensitivity: The list included the name of President Hu Jintao and the words Liberty, Christian, Truth, Sex and Brassiere.
China has an estimated 80 million internet users, more than any country apart from the US.
The authorities are proud of the sign of modernity, but also aware of the danger inherent in free access to ideas, information and political organisations.
Internet firms are required to censor their own sites and bulletin boards, and many overseas sites, including BBC WORLD NEWS, CBS, are blocked altogether.
Most censorship is conducted by the government in China and Chinese companies, but foreign firms such as Yahoo have been criticised for agreeing to abide the rules as an operating condition.
The system has been nicknamed "the Great Firewall of China"
Daily Telegraph London.
The list found its way on to personal computers without their owner's knowlege after they downloaded it as part of a programme needed to run an instant messaging service.
It is believed the list, or one like it, was already being used to alert censors to read emails containing the words on the list. Those who unwittingly downloaded it founf they were unable to send messages at all, or search for internet documents containing the words.
Some topics were predictable: Human rights, democracy and phrases used to describe the Tiananmen Square massacre. Others revealed the depths of the authoritie's sensitivity: The list included the name of President Hu Jintao and the words Liberty, Christian, Truth, Sex and Brassiere.
China has an estimated 80 million internet users, more than any country apart from the US.
The authorities are proud of the sign of modernity, but also aware of the danger inherent in free access to ideas, information and political organisations.
Internet firms are required to censor their own sites and bulletin boards, and many overseas sites, including BBC WORLD NEWS, CBS, are blocked altogether.
Most censorship is conducted by the government in China and Chinese companies, but foreign firms such as Yahoo have been criticised for agreeing to abide the rules as an operating condition.
The system has been nicknamed "the Great Firewall of China"
Daily Telegraph London.